Friday saw the beginning of the trial in one of the four rape cases filed against former MP Prajwal Revanna in 2024, after the Karnataka High Court rejected a plea by his mother, Bhavani Revanna, to stay the proceedings. The survivor, who worked as a domestic help at Prajwal's farmhouse, testified in the special court for elected representatives in Bengaluru. The case, which came to light during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, involves allegations of rape, sexual harassment, and criminal intimidation by the accused.
The Enforcement Directorate has charged Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, which was based on a complaint filed by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2012. The complaint alleges that the Gandhis, along with other Congress leaders, conspired to transfer assets worth hundreds of crores to a company called Young Indian. The Congress has called the charges a political vendetta by the government. This development has further escalated the ongoing political rivalry between the two parties.
In a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused the Congress and its allies of continuously targeting the Indian Army through their statements, comparing them to Pakistan's anti-India activities. He also criticized UP Congress chief Ajay Rai for displaying a toy plane with lemons and chillies to represent Rafale jets parked with "nimbu-mirchi" (for warding off evil eye). Trivedi called on the government to take action against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and questioned the INDIA bloc's statement of being united with the government but having leaders making anti-India statements.
Following the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the ongoing situation and response to the attack. This meeting comes after the Air Chief Marshal and Admiral of the Indian armed forces also met with the Prime Minister. Last week, PM Modi gave the armed forces "complete operational freedom" in dealing with terrorism and the United Nations Security Council is holding a closed consultation on the tensions between India and Pakistan.
In response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack, UP Congress President Ajay Rai criticized the Modi-led government for failing to effectively use their defence resources against terrorism. Rai held up a toy plane labelled as 'Rafale' with lemons and chillies dangling from it to mock the government's defence deal with France. The government had recently signed a Rs 63,000 crore agreement for 26 Rafale-Marines fighter jets in order to bolster India's naval strike capabilities. However, Rai questioned the effectiveness of these jets if they remain parked in hangars with just chillies and lemons for display.
Congress leader Ajay Rai's controversial remark about the Pahalgam terror attack, mocking the Rafale aircraft and hanging "nimbu-mirchi" on a toy model, has drawn backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP has accused Rai and the Congress party of displaying an "anti-national" mentality by belittling the Indian armed forces and their equipment. This latest incident has once again highlighted the ongoing political tensions between the two parties over issues such as national security and relations with Pakistan.
India's Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent address at the 1008 Sanskrit Sambhashan Shivirs has stirred a heated debate over the language's role in the country's cultural and educational agenda. Shah claimed that Sanskrit holds a special place in the country's history and its promotion would have a positive impact on other Indian languages. He further highlighted the government's efforts towards supporting Sanskrit's growth, including the establishment of a Central Sanskrit University and a mission for preserving and digitising ancient Sanskrit manuscripts. However, his comments have also sparked discussions about the political motivation behind the push for Sanskrit's revival.
During the closing ceremony of 1,008 Sanskrit Sambhashan Shivirs, Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for creating a favorable environment for the resurgence of Sanskrit in India. He also highlighted the government's efforts to support Sanskrit studies, including financial aid for the publishing and preservation of rare texts, and a nationwide campaign aimed at collecting scattered manuscripts. This initiative, known as the Gyan Bharatam Mission, has a budget of Rs 500 crore and is set to continue in future budgets.
A controversy has erupted in Karnataka's Kalaburagi after Brahmin candidates appearing for NEET-UG 2025 were allegedly forced to remove their sacred threads before entering the exam hall. An FIR has been lodged against two exam staff members and the incident has sparked protests over religious insensitivity and violation of government instructions. This adds to the heightened tensions surrounding this year's NEET exam, which is the gateway to undergraduate medical courses in India.
In a major development, 24 Naxalites, including 14 carrying rewards, surrendered before the police in Bijapur district. They cited various reasons, such as disappointment with the Maoist ideology and the state government's development schemes, for their decision to join the mainstream of society. This brings the total number of surrendered Naxalites in the district to 203, with 90 killed and 213 arrested. The surrendered Naxalites were given a cheque of Rs 50,000 each and will be further rehabilitated as per government policies.
There has been a rising trend in India of attacks against the judiciary and the Supreme Court, as seen in the recent statements made by BJP member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. This dangerous trend can be traced back to the century-old project led by the RSS to establish a Hindu Rashtra in India. With the executive and legislative branches of the government already under the control of Hindu Rashtra forces, controlling the judiciary has become a top priority for these forces in order to pave the way for the establishment of a Hindu Rashtra.